The dramatic final stretch of the most intense U.S. election in decades is here. In just 16 days, Americans will decide: Will Vice President Kamala Harris (60) succeed her boss, Joe Biden (81), in the Oval Office? Or will Donald Trump (78) secure a second term? The battle is dividing the nation, with the world anxiously watching. Is Harris losing momentum after the summer’s wave of enthusiasm, or will Trump’s dark rhetoric cost him the election in the final sprint?
Polls Show a Tight Race
Pollsters are delivering data that reads like a thriller. According to RealClearPolitics, Harris holds 49.4% in national polls, while Trump is close behind at 47.8%. In the seven key battleground states (Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia), where the election will ultimately be decided, Trump leads—but only by a razor-thin margin of 0.1 to 1.4 percentage points as of Friday.
It’s a true “nail-biter.”
What Are the Candidates’ Final Tactics?
Harris, who took over the campaign from Biden in July, initially sought to inspire with messages of “hope” and promises of a “new way forward.” Democrats were thrilled to move beyond Biden’s perceived shortcomings, but the excitement has waned. Now, like a prosecutor in her closing argument, Harris has turned her focus on Trump, calling him “unstable,” “unfit,” and a would-be dictator. Her fiery attacks rally her base, but her approval rating has recently dropped to 43% (NBC).
Trump, meanwhile, portrays Harris as a partner in what he sees as a disastrous presidency, casting her as incompetent. In contrast, he nostalgically recalls his own term, claiming the country was “safe, prosperous, and respected” globally. He promises a sequel to his “Great” America.
What Issues Are Harris and Trump Focusing on?
Harris is capitalizing on the hot-button issue of abortion, especially after the Supreme Court (with three Trump-appointed justices) overturned federal protections in 2022. Since then, 13 states have banned abortions. Harris also plans to strengthen the middle class, advance climate action, and raise taxes on millionaires and large corporations.
Trump scores points on the economy. Many voters, after dealing with painful inflation, trust him more to bring prices down. He also has an edge on border security, with nearly 10 million illegal border crossings recorded during the Biden-Harris administration. Trump has a majority of Americans backing his tough stance, though his extreme characterization of migrants (“murderers,” “lunatics,” “rapists,” “terrorists”) draws criticism.
Strengths and Challenges
At the start of her campaign, Harris’ image was her strength—she appeared fresh, optimistic, and younger (she turns 60 on Sunday). But in a highly choreographed campaign, there’s often a lack of substance. Her main dilemma: she promises a new era but has yet to clearly explain how her presidency would differ from Biden’s. Recently, she told Fox News only that her administration “wouldn’t be a continuation” of Biden’s term.
Trump, on the other hand, has tapped into widespread frustration—about inflation, immigration, crime, and even the “woke” politics of liberals. But he often lacks focus and discipline, frequently rambling, exaggerating, and ranting. His tone remains mostly dark. With Biden out of the race, Trump now finds himself, at 78, the oldest candidate for the White House.
One striking factor is the gender gap: according to NBC, Trump leads by 16 points among men, while Harris leads by 14 points among women. Trump dismissed the gap in a recent interview, saying, “That’s nonsense. Women love me.”
